EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
CORRESPONDENCE TEMPLE, LONDON, ENG., December, 1904. There is probably no place in the world where the connection between the civic busi ness of a municipality and the administration of the la%v of the land is so close and intimate as in London. As in American cities there is in the city of London a mayor and boards of aldermen and of councillors, but the manner of selecting these officials, not only in London but elsewhere in England, is vastly different from that which prevails in the United States. The members of the lower house of the legislative body only are elected, and those who are entitled to vote at municipal elections are a comparatively small part of the community. Furthermore such elections occur only at long intervals, as a councilman once elected retains his office so long as he cares to do so, provided he takes an interest in and pays proper attention to his duties. Thus an election is held only when a vacancy occurs through promotion, death or resignation. The Board of. Aldermen, as va cancies occur in that august body, is, generally speaking, recruited from the councilmen, such of the latter being called to the upper house as have shown a peculiar fitness or adaptability for civic work. The office of alderman is one of great dignity and importance, as in addi tion to his other duties he sits as an examining magistrate, with power to commit for trial, in a large number of offences of the gravest char acter. The Lord Mayor is chosen from the aldermen and must in rotation serve the office of civic magistrate or pay a fine in lieu thereof. This system, therefore, not only secures the services of municipal legislators who are trained by years of experience to a faithful discharge of their functions, but ensures the presence in the mayorial chair of a man of affairs and of wide acquaintance with muni cipal government. In addition to their other duties, the mayor and aldermen and the sheriffs assist by their presence the administration of justice at the Central Criminal Court, or the Old Bailey. The ceremony of opening the court each day of the session is quaint and interesting. When
the bailiff cries for silence, counsel and wit nesses and all in the court stand, then the judge and one or more aldermen and the sheriffs and chaplain and an under sheriff, file in, in a stately procession. The aldermen wear their robes, trimmed with fur, and jew elled chains of office over their shoulders, while the sheriffs and under sheriffs appear in court dress. There are from three to five courts simultaneously in session at the Old Bailey, and each of the courts is daily opened with this formality. It is not only a survival of ancient custom, but it appears to impress the class most likely to be awed by the majesty of the law. Another quaint custom is the provision of a bouquet to the judge, a fresh one being handed to him every day. This custom took its rise in the days when jail fever was a menacing terror and the judge was supposed to hold the flowers to his face in order to escape contagion while trying a crim inal who had been in custody. For the same reason the dais and the approach to the bench are still thickly strewn with rosemary and other fragrant dried herbs, although the pres ent jails are probably in as sanitary a condition as the average modern house. But what would most strike a stranger ac customed to criminal courts in America is the hospitable provision made for the judges and officials and the leading counsel by the mayor and sheriffs. Every day there is provided a luncheon of generous and sumptuous propor tions, and tea is served in the afternoon. This is furnished at the expense of the three officials named, out of their private purse, and the cost must be a tax upon even a large in come. In fact, the expense to a sheriff, who receives no pecuniary compensation whatever for his services, amounts to close upon $20,000 a year. This is willingly defrayed for the honor of the office. The mayor having been elected makes his first appearance in state in a journey from the Guildhall, through gaily decorated streets, to call officially upon the Lord Chief Justice. This is what is popularly known as "the Lord Mayor's Show." This year the cere
